STROKE / HEART FAILURE – BLAYLOCK JULY 09

Edited by Russell L. Blaylock, M.D.July 2009 Vol. 6, No. 7

The Blaylock Wellness Report

Living a Long, Healthy Life

Key PointsThere are strong ties between chronic inflammation and heart failure Abdominal fat plays a key role in heart health Vitamin D-3 is essential for heart health Think statin drugs are a cure-all for heart problems? Think again Mercury poses many health problems — find out what they are and avoid these sources

PLUS

More good news for breast-feeding Pesticides are found in soft drinks

ASK DR. BLAYLOCK

X-rays and prostate health; supplements can help with renal failure; supplements for good health

Part 2 of 2-Part Series

7 Strategies to Stop Heart Disease

Heart failure is one of the fastest-growing causes of hospitalizations and death in the Western world. The United States takes the lead in this disease — an estimated 5.3 million Americans live with heart failure and 660,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Of all the cardiovascular diseases, heart failure, which is defined as the inability of the heart to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs, is the only disease that is increasing in incidence. It’s obvious we have a real problem on our hands.

The condition is hitting senior citizens especially hard. A new 27-year study has found that heart failure in people over age 65 increased 131 percent, with women showing the greatest increase. Among younger people, men are more likely to suffer heart failure. About 50 percent of both sexes will die within five years of diagnosis — when conventional treatments are used.

One cause for the high death rate is that people with heart failure are twice as likely to die from a stroke. This link between heart failure and stroke, which, by the way, is a new observation, is especially critical within a month of a diagnosis of heart failure, when people face a 17-fold increased risk of having a stroke.

This deadly link makes sense when we remember that the evidence strongly ties chronic inflammation to heart failure and stroke. Further evidence comes from another new observation that soon after having a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, the incidence of heart failure begins to rise.

About one-third of rheumatoid arthritis patients will eventually develop heart failure, twice the risk of the healthy population. Levels of the inflammatory cytokine TNF-á rise precipitously in people with active rheumatoid arthritis.

Another link to inflammation comes from a new study from UCLA, which found that heart failure patients show a high incidence of brain shrinkage in the hippocampus. Yet another study found that the presence of depression was associated with faster progression of heart failure. The most depressed patients had TNF-á levels that were twice as high as non-depressed patients.

As we saw in Part 1 of this series, prognosis can be predicted by inflammatory marker levels — patients whose inflammatory marker levels are the highest have the worst prognosis.

Another new study also found that heart failure rates were higher in people with greater abdominal fat, which is a source of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-á .

So a great deal of data links chronic inflammation with heart failure. What kind of inflammation? The list is long, but the following elements are key:

Data from a 15-year study indicate that a particular type of heart failure, called diastolic heart failure, appears to account for most of the increase in heart failure rates. Far too many doctors do not test for this less-recognized form.

It takes more energy to fill the heart than to pump blood out, and with diastolic heart failure, the problem is in filling the chambers of the heart with blood (diastole) rather than emptying them (systole).

Some doctors fail to diagnose this form of heart failure because the test they rely on — called “ejection fraction” — is often normal and they do not go further and obtain diastolic functional studies.

This form of heart failure is more difficult to treat.

Unlike the traditional form of the disease, diastolic failure depends more on reducing inflammation and improving heart energy production. These therapies fall in the domain of nutritional treatments, since traditional medicine has little to offer.

Strategy 1: Take Vitamin D-3Treating heart failure is one thing, but how can we prevent it? Certainly a good diet, regular exercise, plenty of sleep, avoiding stress, and a good vitamin/mineral supplement go a long way in accomplishing this goal. Yet, one supplement stands out, and that is vitamin D-3.

I pointed out in a previous newsletter that vitamin D-3 is being shown to be one of our most important supplements. In truth, vitamin D-3 is not a vitamin; rather, it is a neurohormone.

As we have seen, the primary cause of heart failure, or at least its progression, is chronicinflammation. Therefore, anything that reduces inflammation should also improve heart failure.

A number of studies are confirming this observation. Vitamin D-3 has been shown to suppress the release of the inflammatory cytokine TNF-á and to increase the anti-inflammatory cytokine called IL-10 — the higher the dose of the vitamin D-3, the greater the beneficial effect.

Studies have also shown that patients with congestive heart failure have the lowest levels of vitamin D in their blood.

One study followed 737 people for about eight years and found that those with the lowest vitamin D levels had a 222 percent higher risk of dying from their heart disease than those with the highest levels. Low vitamin D levels also were associated with dangerous conditions:• Higher hsCRP levels• Higher oxidative stress measures• Lower glutathione — a major antioxidant

Another study of 3,299 heart failure patients, who were also followed for almost eight years, found that those with the lowest vitamin D levels died of heart failure at rates 286 percent higher than those with higher vitamin D levels.

Even more shocking was the finding that there was more than a 500 percent increased risk of sudden cardiac death in those with the lowest vitamin D levels.

Low vitamin D levels are not only linked to heart failure but also to a higher incidence of strokes and deaths from strokes.

When researchers created a genetically modified mouse that had no vitamin D receptors, the mice developed hypertension and an enlarged heart (called hypertrophy).

In a German double-blind study of 123 patients with serious congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association functional Class II or greater) researchers either gave the patients a daily supplement of 2,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D-3 or a placebo. Both groups were given a calcium supplement for a total calcium intake of 1,000 milligrams to 1,500 milligrams a day.

Three factors were used as end points of the study:• Survival rate• Measures of inflammation• Objective heart-function studies

Initially, all patients were found to have very low vitamin D levels and IL-10 levels (antiinflammatory), and very high TNF-á levels (inflammatory). The patients given vitamin D-3 supplements had a significant elevation in their blood vitamin D levels, while the levels of those patients not given supplements continued to be low.

Those patients supplemented with vitamin D-3 had a dramatic 43 percent increase in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 after nine months, whereas in the unsupplemented group, cytokine IL-10 levels showed no change.

The TNF-á levels did not change in the supplemented group, but increased 12 percent inthe unsupplemented group. Remember — in heart failure, the TNF-á levels progressively increase, reaching incredibly high levels toward the end. After nine months of vitamin D-3 treatment, the supplemented patients showed a dramatic improvement in objective heart-function tests (an increase in the LVEF and a fall in LVEDD).

One of the effects of low vitamin D-3 intake is overactivation of the parathyroid glands, which control blood calcium levels. High levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) have harmful effects on the heart and may play a major role in heart failure. Supplementing with vitamin D-3 has been shown to significantly lower PTH levels.

As impressive as this study is, even the authors of the paper admit that the dose of vitamin D-3 they used was probably too low and that using higher levels may have been even more beneficial.

Many doctors fear giving higher doses of vitamin D-3, because during their medical training they remember hearing that vitamin D is linked to calcification of tissues. They are not familiar with the newer studies, which clearly show that these fears are unfounded.

In fact, calcification of blood vessels and other tissues is much more common with low intakes of vitamin D-3 than high intakes. The earlier studies citing the dangers of high doses involved massive doses of vitamin D that were usually in the range of several hundred thousand units.

A new study found that most cases of blood vessel calcification, a strong indicator of serious cardiovascular disease, were associated with extremely low levels of vitamin D and not high levels. Newer studies have also shown that over 70 percent of the American public is vitamin D deficient.

African-Americans have the lowest vitamin D levels and the highest incidence of cardiovascular disease and heart failure. Studies have shown that they require 10 times the sun exposure to produceness Report Page 3 the same amount of vitamin D-3 as light-skinned people.

Older individuals have more difficulty generating vitamin D-3 with sun exposure and may require even greater intakes of vitamin D-3 than younger adults. The recommendations now suggest that children should get 1,000 IU of vitamin D-3 a day, young adults 2,000 IU a day, and older people 5,000 IU a day. Black-skinned individuals not exposed to the sun on a regular basis should get 5,000 IU a day.

Strategy 2: Avoid Statin DrugsStatin drugs that lower cholesterol, such as Crestor and Lipitor, reduce cholesterol formation in the liver by inhibiting an enzyme (HMGCoA reductase). This enzyme is responsible for manufacturing cholesterol as well as coenzyme Q10. As I discussed in Part 1 of this newsletter, CoQ10 plays a major role in heart energy and is also a powerful antioxidant.

Statin drugs have been shown to dramatically lower CoQ10 levels in the heart. Severalcardiologists and heart researchers have expressed concern over drastically lowering the levels of CoQ10 in massive numbers of people for an extended period. Remember, the pharmaceutical companies are suggesting that statins be used for a lifetime. With the call to also use these drugs in children, a real disaster could be in the making.

It is interesting to note that the dramatic rise in congestive heart failure started about the same time as the widespread use of these drugs. Only recently have some cardiologists started recommending CoQ10 supplementation to their patients who use statins. Many still do not use it.

Unfortunately, like so many other nutritional treatments, the typical physician knows little about the absorption and utilization of CoQ10. CoQ10 has two basic forms, ubiquinone and ubiquinol. The latter, ubiquinol, is the most easily absorbed and used by the heart muscle. Most CoQ10 supplements, especially the less expensive forms, are ubiquinone. The dose also matters. If you are using ubiquinone, the effective dose can vary from 125 mg to 800 mg or even higher. At 50 mg to 100 mg, ubiquinol is equally effective and much better absorbed, especially in those with serious heart failure (NYHA-FC IV). In addition, CoQ10 is oil soluble, meaning that dry powder forms in capsules can be very poorly absorbed. The best brands are dissolved in oils within capsules. Life extension (www.lef.org) makes an excellent ubiquinol supplement.

While I am opposed to the use of statin drugs, if you must take them, at least take 100 mg of CoQ10 a day in the form of ubiquinol.

Strategy 3: Increase Omega-3 IntakeOmega-3 fats play a major role in reducing heart disease and especially death from heartdisease. Their importance is now recognized by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology, which have made omega-3 fatty acids a regular part of their recommendations for preventing and even treating heart disease. I was reading research concerning the power of omega-3 oils to reduce heart attack and stroke deaths over 30 years ago, but it was mostly ignored by the cardiologists in the United States until very recently.

Now, suddenly they pretend that this is a new discovery, which does little good for the millions who suffered and died from cardiovascular diseases during that period.

One of the major ways omega-3 oils reduce cardiovascular deaths is by reducing fatal arrhythmias. Arrhythmias can be a problem with both sudden heart attacks and congestive heart failure. When the heart muscle is inflamed, it becomes much more irritable. Low magnesium levels and high glutamate levels, especially if occurring together, are a prescription for a fatal arrhythmia.

Not only are omega-3 oils important for heart health during our adult years but also new research indicates they may play a role in regulating our heart rate from early life. Researchers found that supplying DHA during critical periods of heart development (age 3 to 5 months) played a major role in the development of parasympathetic control of the heart. Sympathetic overactivity is associated with heart failure and parasympathetic balance is associated with heart protection.

Others have shown that fish oil, but not flaxseed oil, reduced heart inflammation and prevented heart failure in animal models of human disease. In a clinical study using 992 heart patients, researchers found that DHA lowered hsCRP and IL-6, markers for inflammation.

DHA has also been shown to reduce overactivity of glutamate receptors and may do so in the heart muscle and the heart’s electrical conduction system.

Because most of the beneficial effects seen with fish oils arise from the DHA component and not the EPA component, I favor pure or high DHA oil. Most of the complications associated with fish oil — immune suppression, a loss of control of diabetes, and hemorrhaging — are associated with the EPA, not the DHA, component.

Strategy 4: Reduce Excitotoxins in Your Diet

In the past, it was assumed that glutamate receptors were found only in the central nervous system, with glutamate being the most abundant neurotransmitter in the human brain. To researchers’ surprise, glutamate receptors have been discovered in virtually every organ and tissue in the body, including the heart and all blood vessels. In fact, heart muscle and the heart’s electrical conduction system (AV node, SA node, and bundle of His) contain an elaborate set of glutamate receptors just like those found in the brain.

Stimulation of these receptors excites the heart. In the short term, this is good and necessary for heart function. But, at high levels, glutamate overstimulates the heart, which can lead to destruction of heart muscle cells and the electrical conduction system. This can lead to heart failure and arrhythmias.

Studies have shown that as we age the nerve cells in the heart’s electrical system begin to degenerate. By age 70 about 70 percent of the cells in the SA and AV node have disappeared. This would explain the high incidence of heart failure and heart malfunctions (such as heart blocks and arrhythmias) in the elderly.

Excitotoxins in the diet have been shown to raise blood glutamate levels anywhere from 20-fold to 50-fold higher than fasting levels. This is sufficient to cause damage to organs containing glutamate receptors.

Most diets are very high in excitotoxin additives — diets that include three meals a day as well as a number of snacks. In addition to solid foods and soups, many diets contain drinks and foods sweetened with aspartame, which contains the excitotoxin aspartic acid.

Having a low level of magnesium, which includes 75 percent of the general population, greatly increases the likelihood of excitotoxic damage to the heart and raises the risk of arrhythmia. Drinking carbonated drinks, eating diets low in fruits and vegetables, and living with chronic stress, all lower magnesium levels.

In addition, many heart and diabetic medications also lower magnesium levels in the body. This is especially true for the diuretics. Physicians rarely give their heart patients magnesium.

Like the brain, as we age, our hearts become more sensitive to the damaging effects of excitotoxicity, especially as heart failure progresses. The inner lining of the coronary arteries (called the endothelium) contains an abundant supply of glutamate receptors. Studies have shown that feeding just a few doses of MSG to infant animals can drastically increase free radicals and lipid-peroxidation levels in the endothelium that can last for years. This is equal to decades in humans.

In addition, MSG depletes the protective antioxidant enzymes in arteries. This combination could set the stage for both atherosclerosis and coronary artery spasm, a common cause for sudden cardiac death.

African-Americans have the highest incidence of heart disease, including heart failure. A study of 30 such patients with heart failure of varying degrees found all had low vitamin D-3 levels, about half had low serum zinc levels, and all had low levels of selenium.

In one study, patients with very severe heart failure were given a cocktail containing high doses of multivitamins, minerals, and CoQ10. The majority experienced a significant improvement in symptoms and a few improved so much they were even removed from the heart-transplant list. This again demonstrates that nutritional supplementation cannot be treated in the same way as pharmaceuticals.

Nutrients work together to repair defective metabolism and protect tissues and organs from damaging free radicals and lipid-peroxidation products. They are not drugs, yet most physicians treat them as such.

As in the case of omega-3 oils and heart protection, it has taken almost 40 years for cardiologists to recognize the benefits of magnesium to the heart patient. Again we see that physicians are poorly trained in human physiology and biochemistry.

Calcium is also important for heart function, but it must be carefully controlled. Taurine, as you learned in the last newsletter, regulates the amount of calcium in heart cells. Combining vitamin D-3 with calcium supplementation improves heart function in heart-failure patients. In most studies the dose is 1,000 mg to 1,500 mg of calcium a day.

Another important heart nutrient is D-ribose, a special sugar molecule used by the heart to produce its energy molecule ATP.Here are examples of how D-ribose affects the quality of life of cardiac patients:• Improves cardiac diastolic function• Improves lung efficiency• Raises threshold for exercise tolerance

Remember, it is the filling of the heart (diastolic phase) that requires the most energy and D-ribose is efficient at supplying that energy. (For more information, see Sinatra, S.T., Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 2009; 15: 48-50.) You can buy D-ribose without a prescription.

Finally, a new study found that a slurry of broccoli fed to rats dramatically protected their hearts from damage from induced heart attacks. The broccoli reduced the size of the damaged heart tissue, improved heart-muscle function, and increased the generation of a powerful and critical heart antioxidant molecule called thioredoxin. It also stimulated survival cell signaling molecules that protect the heart’s muscle cells (Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry, 2008; 56: 609-617).

Strategy 6: Prevent Mercury Intake

One of the most ignored links to heart failure is mercury. People are exposed to mercury from a variety of sources:• Dental amalgam• Atmospheric mercury• Mercury-containing vaccines(as with flu vaccines)• Seafood containing high levels of mercury

Most people are exposed to a number of these sources for a lifetime. Mercury accumulates in the body, so tissue and organ mercury levels rise with each exposure. It’s true that some of the mercury is continuously excreted, mainly in the feces, but much is re-absorbed and recirculated from the gut only to be redeposited in tissues and organs, such as the heart.

One study followed 2,005 men who were free of heart disease at the time of the study and were matched for all known heart-risk variables. The study found that men who had the highest concentration of mercury in their hair (the top 25 percent) had a 60 percent higher risk of death from heart disease and a 70 percent overall higher risk of cardiovascular disease than those with the lowest body burden of mercury.

The study was conducted by a team led by Dr. Jukka T. Salonen of the Research Institute of Public Health at the University of Kuopio in Finland. The men were followed for 12 years and subjected to a number of cardiovascular tests, including measures of the buildup of atherosclerosis plaque. It appears that high mercury levels increase atherosclerosis. Furthermore, these studies have concluded that mercury contamination in seafood can counteract the beneficial effects of the omega-3 oils.

In a previous newsletter I mentioned the work of Dr. Jane Hightower, a physician practicing in San Francisco, who found high levels of methymercury in her cardiac patients, especially those consuming swordfish, Chilean sea bass, and albacore tuna.

The EPA safe limit of one microgram/ gram appears to be the cutoff point at which the beneficial effects of the omega-3 oils are overridden by the toxicity of the mercury. Dr. Hightower found levels of 22 micrograms/gram in her patients eating swordfish frequently. The Finnish study found levels as high as 15.7 micrograms/gram.

Even the American Heart Association admits that methymercury from fish can increase cardiovascular diseases, yet they recommend people eat albacore tuna, which has levels of mercury that are three times higher than those found in light tuna. So what fish have the highest levels, and which ones should you avoid?• Swordfish• Albacore tuna• Tile fish• Shark• King mackerel

While most of these studies looked at seafood as the source of the mercury, others have targeted dental amalgam fillings, which contain almost 50 percent elemental mercury, as the worst offender. Mercury from recommended vaccinations is never mentioned, even though the flu vaccine for seniors contains a full dose of mercury. (See my previous newsletters on mercury and fish warnings for more information.)

Because mercury appears to play a major role in both heart attacks and heart failure, steps should be taken to reduce the level of mercury in the body. This involves chelation and removal of the mercury as well as detoxifying the metal.

Those with dental amalgam fillings should have them removed, in my opinion, by a trained dental specialist. (Go to www.iaomt.com to find a specialist near you.) Chelation should be postponed until the amalgams are removed.

Strategy 7: Reduce Stress Levels

It has been known for a long time that chronic or even severe acute stress can damage the heart. Most research has focused on the fact that during stress our adrenal glands secrete large amounts of epinephrine and norepinephrine (called catecholamines). These chemicals can throw the coronary arteries into spasm and directly damage heart-muscle tissue, especially if magnesium levels are low.

It is also known in research literature that stimulating certain areas of the hypothalamus can cause small hemorrhages and destruction (necrosis) of heart muscle. During stress, an overflow of impulses from this area of the brain can result in direct damage to the heart muscle, leading to weakened heart contractions and arrhythmias.

Studies have shown that people who have strong faith are less likely to suffer from stress-related diseases. Attending church regularly, being close to one’s family, and having friends have all been shown to reduce stress.

Regular exercise also relieves stress and improves antioxidant defenses. The best exercises include moderate calisthenic type exercises, brisk walking and weight-resistance exercises. One of the best exercises for younger and in-shape older people is boxing exercises — such as working out on a speed bag and heavy bag. People with existing heart disease need to check with their cardiologist.

An Unexpected Benefit of Breast-Feeding Your ChildA study reported in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases found that women who breast-feed their babies longer than one year reduce their risk of ever developing rheumatoid arthritis by half. Just being pregnant but not breast-feeding offers no protection. Neither do birth control pills. Even though scientists suspect a hormonal cause, the benefit comes from hormones associated with lactation and not pregnancy itself.

Women who breast-fed their babies from one to 12 months saw a 25 percent reduction in rheumatoid arthritis. This again shows the enormous value in breast-feeding infants for at least 18 months. It is also important to keep in mind that what you eat will end up in the baby’s milk. Therefore, mothers nursing their babies should follow a carefully planned, healthy diet free of pesticides and herbicides, mercury, and other heavy metal contamination.

Growing evidence indicates that early feeding can program the baby’s genes for future health. A good diet could reduce future serious adult disease, while a bad diet could program the baby’s body for a host of adult diseases.

Carbonated Drinks Found to Contain High Levels of Pesticides

An examination of several types of carbonated drinks found that many contained high levels of pesticides, some with levels as much as 300 times higher than EPA standards for drinking water.

Researchers examined 102 cans from 15 countries looking for 100 types of commonly used pesticides. They found high levels in a number of the drinks, especially those in the U.K.

Young children are most vulnerable, since the cancers most commonly linked to pesticides/ herbicides are leukemia and lymphomas. For adults, as I pointed out in the newsletter on Parkinson’s disease, the greatest danger is for children with detoxification problems. It is also important to keep in mind that the fastest-growing cancer in adults under age 30 is lymphomas.

More Bad News for People Living Near Power Lines and Microwave Towers

A new Swiss study links living within 160 feet of a long-distance transmission line with a significant increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.1 The researchers looked at 95 percent of Switzerland’s population from 2000 to 2005 and found that people living within 160 feet of a tower increased their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease 1.24 times that of those living 2,000 feet away.

The amount of time spent living near the lines also mattered. For those living near the lines five or more years, the risk went up to 1.51 times the risk of those living at a greater distance. The risk increased 1.78 times for those living close to the lines for 10 years. Many people live in the same home for a lifetime, and researchers found that people who lived near power lines for 15 years raised their risk 200 percent.

These rates are all statistically significant since the subjects were controlled for other dementia risk factors. The damage appears to be from extremely low frequency magnetic fields, so one must also consider many electrical devices around the home. Sleeping or working near these devices increases risk as well. They did not find an increased risk for other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s, ALS, or multiple sclerosis.

With the growing evidence that microwave radiation also damages the brain, the widespread use of cell phones as well as the positioning of microwave towers near schools, in workplaces, and even in church steeples should be a concern. With cities being blanketed with microwave towers, no one is safe.

It is interesting to note that a recent analysis of the funding for studies concerned with cell-phone safety found that most are partially or exclusively funded by the telecommunications industry. Such articles rarely report health problems, whereas the opposite is true for independently funded studies.2

Pneumococcal Vaccine Shown To Be Ineffective

Every year hundreds of thousands of small children, senior citizens, and at-risk individuals are subjected to the pneumococcal vaccine supposedly to prevent hospitalization and death from streptococcal pneumoniae infections. A number of previous studies have claimed the vaccine was effective in preventing pneumococcal diseases, but a new study, one of the most carefully done studies yet, found that it is ineffective for adults.3 Unlike previous studies, this meta-analysis used only high quality studies, including 13 quality trial studies and 10 using quality scores for sensitivity, thus excluding the weaker studies. They found that the vaccine currently used (the 23-valent vaccine) did not reduce pneumococcal disease in the elderly or those at special risk of the disease. Keep this in mind when your doctor wants to give you the pneumococcal vaccine.

Attention Blaylock Readers:Dr. Blaylock welcomes any questions or comments you would like to share.Each month, he will select a few to be published and answered in the newsletter.Please remember that he cannot answer every question.When submitting a question or comment, please include full name, city, and state.Please e-mail the doctor at: askblaylock@newsmax.com.

Q: I’ve read several documents from doctors who claim there is a method using X-rays that will shrink the prostate without surgery. Do you know of any?— Charles S., Pensacola, Fla.A: There are a number of radiation treatments used to treat prostate cancer. This includes external beam radiation (the radiation is beamed through the body to reach the prostate) and implanted radioactive seeds. Both expose surrounding tissues to the radiation dose (bladder and urethra in particular), which can cause scarring (radiation fibrosis) and even induce another cancer years or decades later.A number of studies have shown that radiation treatments of prostate cancer are less effective in treating prostate cancer than either nutritional treatments, surgery alone, or nutritional treatments combined with surgery.

Many prostate glands are removed or treated aggressively, when in fact the cancer is rather benign and rarely spreads. In fact, most prostate cancers grow so slowly that you will die of old age before you die of the prostate cancer. Unfortunately, because most doctors do not differentiate these more benign cancers from the highly aggressive ones (in part because our testing is inadequate) many men undergo radical treatments that leave them disabled, impotent, and with bladder difficulties. Radiation treatments are one of the more damaging therapies.

Q: Is renal failure (a rate of 50 percent) treatable with supplements?— William W., Jacksonville, Fla.A: The kidney, like all other organs in the body, is damaged by free radicals and lipid peroxidation products, environmental toxins, and even excitotoxins. This is true even in the case of infectious and autoimmune causes for renal failure. Because the kidney is used to clear the body of toxins and regulate the levels of critical elements (magnesium, sodium and potassium, for example), special care has to be used in using certain supplements. For example, magnesium has been shown to improve kidney function and blood flow to the kidney, but an overdose of magnesium, because of the marginal kidney function, can result in high toxicity levels of magnesium. For that reason, lower doses of magnesium have to be used and blood levels of magnesium have to be carefully monitored by your doctor.

Some of the most impressive ways to reduce kidney damage from a multitude of causes is the use of the supplements quercetin, resveratrol, grape seed extract, and curcumin — all of which reduce oxidative stress in the kidney and protect against damage by chemotherapy, certain antibiotics (gentimycin), diabetes, and inflammation. A considerable amount of research backs up quercetin’s ability to protect the kidney. Both quercetin and curcumin should be dissolved in extra-virgin olive oil for maximum absorption. Finally, a component in white tea has been shown to significantly protect the kidneys from oxidative damage. Drinking two to three strong cups of white tea is sufficient.

Q: What supplements would you recommend for an 80-year-old?— Kevin A., Knoxville, Tenn.A: As I constantly remind people, the most important element at any age is your daily diet. See my two-part newsletter on diet and nutritional supplements for more information. There is considerable evidence that as we age, we develop a number of nutritional deficiencies, especially for vitamin D-3, B-12, folate, vitamin B-6, thiamine, and DHA.A fairly recent study by a molecular biologist found that as we age, our enzymes, which keep our cells operating, begin to operate sluggishly. Taking higher doses of certain vitamins can gives these enzymes a kick start — making our cells work more efficiently. Of particular importance is vitamin D-3, which can lead to osteoporosis when deficient (it may be the leading cause for thinning bones), autoimmune disorders, brain degeneration and a high susceptibility to viral infections, including the flu. At that age, Extend Core multivitamin/mineral capsules, one three times a day with meals, will supply most of the missing vitamins and minerals. One might want to take more B-12 as methylcobalamin, 2,000 micrograms a day and extra magnesium citrate/malate 500 milligrams twice a day. Exact supplements would depend on one’s state of overall health.

Q: Is there are link between childhood vaccines and Type 1 diabetes in children?— John P., Boulder, Colo.

A: There is growing evidence of a link between certain childhood vaccines and insulin-dependent diabetes in children, especially if those children are drinking cow’s milk. A special protein in the cow’s milk can trigger an autoimmune reaction to the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, destroying the child’s ability to produce insulin.

It appears that susceptibility to the vaccine/cow’s milk combination requires a genetic susceptibility — one that is not that uncommon. The suspected vaccine is the MMR. Specifically, it is the rubella (mumps) viral component of the live vaccine that is strongly associated with Type 1 diabetes. Today, 1 in 500 children and teenagers has juvenile diabetes, and the number continues to grow as more stringent vaccine policies are mandated. Public health policy is destroying our children’s health under the guise of protecting them from a far lesser danger.

Data from a 15-year study indicate that a particular type of heart failure, called diastolic heart failure, appears to account for most of the increase in heartfailure rates. Far too many doctors do not test for this less-recognized form.

Excitotoxicity and Its Role In Heart Failure

Like the brain, as we age, our hearts become more sensitive to the damaging effects of excitotoxicity, especially as heart failure progresses. The inner lining of the coronary arteries (called the endothelium) contains an abundant supply of glutamate receptors. Studies have shown that feeding just a few doses of MSG to infant animals can drastically increase free radicals and lipidperoxidation levels in the endothelium that can last for years. This is equal to decades in humans.

Statin drugs have been shown to dramatically lower CoQ10 levels in the heart. Several cardiologists and heart researchers have expressed concern over drastically lowering the levels of CoQ10. becomes much more irritable. Low magnesium levels and high glutamate levels, especially if occurring together, are a prescription for a fatal arrhythmia.

Magnesium — Good For Your HeartMagnesium holds a special place in the treatment and prevention of heart disease. One of its most important functions is to control the heart’s excitability, which relates directly to one’s risk of arrhythmia. It does this by suppressing the glutamate receptors. Low levels of magnesium are associated with stress damage to the heart, including sudden cardiac death. Magnesium also plays a role in reducing heart inflammation and raising glutathione levels in the heart. Both are essential for protecting the heart from free radical damage. Unfortunately, magnesium is one of the most overlooked minerals in medicine. Doctors never neglect to add potassium to an IV, but do not add magnesium , despite the fact that it is one of the most common mineral deficiencies in both diabetics and cardiac patients.

Mercury Damages Your HeartBecause mercury appears to play a major role in both heart attacks and heart failure, steps should be taken to reduce the level of mercury in the body. This involves chelation and removal of the mercury as well as detoxifying the metal.

There are several ways to chelate mercury from the heart:• DMSA and DMPS. These are the best choices for removing mercury from the body. The advantage of DMSA is that it can be taken orally in small doses over an extended period. My book, “Health and Nutrition Secrets That Can Save Your Life” (www.russellblaylockmd. com) outlines the protocol.• Selenium. This nutrient is usually found in very low amounts in heart failure patients, and it has been shown to detoxify mercury.• Aged garlic extract.• Steam baths.

Coping With Stress

Many people believe that stress comes only in physical form (something like exhaustion or injury), while others recognize different traumas, including mental stress. Only relatively recently have physicians and neuroscientists accepted the fact that mental stress is a legitimate source of harm to the body. We used such terms as psychosomatic illness to identify a mysterious connection between psychological stress and human disease. With the dramatic improvement in neuroscience methodology and technology, we now know that so-called “psychological” stress produces effects on the brain identical to those caused by physical stress. And at times, they can be even more severe. Here’s a list of things you can do to reduce stress:

• Reduce your intake of fats — especially saturated fats and omega-6 fats. Omega-6 oils include vegetable oils such as corn, safflower, peanut, sunflower, soybean, and canola oils. Studies have shown that animals on high-fat diets release more cortisol and take longer to recover from stress than those on low-fat diets.

• Take magnesium. Magnesium is the body’s natural calmative agent. It reduces excitotoxicity, and when taken at bedtime, it aids sleep. It also reduces the immune over reactivity seen with anxiety disorders. In addition, it reduces your risk of heart disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes (and metabolic syndrome).

• Drink white tea. White tea contains a flavonoid called epigallocatechin gallate. This flavonoid has recently been shown to calm the brain and reduce anxiety.

BLAYLOCK TIP Nutrients Protect Against Vaccine ComplicationsBe cautious when considering vaccination for you and your family and keep in mind that vaccine complications increase dramatically when given close together.

To give the immune system time to settle down, vaccines should be separated by six months in children and perhaps longer in adults. The number of vaccinations that can be given safely in a lifetime is not unlimited. I believe many vaccines are unnecessary since many have not been shown to be effective and there are reasonable and infinitely safer alternatives.

In addition, it is vital to maintain nutritional health. Numerous studies have shown that nutritional depletion, even of one or two nutrients, dramatically increases vaccine complications. This is especially so for vitamin A (as mixed carotenoids), zinc, vitamin E, and vitamin D-3. I also recommend a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement without iron.

BLAYLOCK TIP

About Dr. BlaylockDr. Russell Blaylock edits Newsmax.com’s Blaylock Wellness Report. He is a nationally recognized board-certified neurosurgeon, health practitioner, author, and lecturer. He attended the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans and completed his internship and neurosurgical residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, S.C. For the past 26 years, he has practiced neurosurgery in addition to having a nutritional practice. He recently retired from his neurosurgical duties to devote his full attention to nutritional studies and research. Dr. Blaylock has authored three books on nutrition and wellness, including “Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills,” “Health and Nutrition Secrets That Can Save Your Life,” and his most recent work, “Natural Strategies for The Cancer Patient.” An in-demand guest for radio and television programs, he lectures extensively to both lay and professional medical audiences on a variety of nutritionrelated subjects. Also, Dr. Blaylock has been appointed to serve on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Life Extension Foundation. He is the 2004 recipient of the Integrity in Science Award granted by the Weston A. Price Foundation. Dr. Blaylock serves on the editorial staff of the Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association and on the editorial staff of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, official publication of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons. He previously served as clinical assistant professor of neurosurgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Miss., and is currently a visiting professor of biology at the Belhaven College, also in Jackson.

Page 6 The Blaylock Wellness Report July 2009

Belly fat is endangering the health of over 50 million Americans…Are YOU at risk? Empowering Healthy Aging Since 1979Vitamin Research Products®Glabrinex ™ is clinically proven to help reduce belly fat, waist circumference and body weight, and to help balance blood sugar.Glabrinex™ down-regulates the body’s fat forming processes while it up-regulates the activity of fat-burning enzymes.This patent-pending formula has been in development for over a decade.

For a limited time only buy 2 get 1 free !When you order a two-month supply of Glabrinex™ for $99.90 you will receive athird month for free (a $49.95 value). A complimentary tape measure will be included inyour order to track your progress. Glabrinex™ comes with a 90-day satisfaction guarantee.

This isn’t just a cosmetic issue. Belly fat includes visceral fat, which is a leading cause of metabolic syndrome – a deadly combination of elevated blood pressure, triglycerides and blood sugar.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Current subscribers have instant access to any and every past edition of The Blaylock Wellness Report. Simply go here: drblaylock.newsmax.com The password for every issue is provided in the introductory e-mail.

Please note that this advice is generic and not specific to any individual. You should consult with your doctor before undertaking any medical or nutritional course of action.

PLEASE NOTE: All information presented in The Blaylock Wellness Report is for informational purposes only. It is not specific medical advice for any individual. All answers to reader questions are provided for informational purposes only. All information presented in The Blaylock Wellness Report should not be construed as medical consultation or instruction. You should take no action solely on the basis of this publication’s contents. Readers are advised to consult a health professional about any issue regarding their health and well-being. While the information found in TheBlaylock Wellness Report is believed to be sensible and accurate based on the author’s best judgment, readers who fail to seek counsel from appropriate health professionals assume risk of any potential ill effects. The opinions expressed in The Blaylock Wellness Report do not necessarily reflect those of Newsmax Media.

The Blaylock Wellness Report (#61) is a publication of Newsmax Media, Inc., and Newsmax.com. It is published monthly at a charge of $54.00 per year and is offered online and in print through Newsmax.com. Our editorial offices are located at 560 Village Boulevard, Ste. 120, West Palm Beach, Florida 33409. The owner, publisher, and editor are not responsible for errors and omissions. Rights of reproduction and distribution of this newsletter are reserved. Any unauthorized reproduction or distribution of information contained herein, including storage in retrieval systems or posting on the Internet, is expressly forbidden without the consent of Newsmax Media.For permission, contact the publisher at